Southern Sudanese in Jonglei are eager to vote for the first time

By Philip Thon Aleu

April 10, 2010 (BOR) – Many southern Sudanese are waiting eagerly tol participate for the first time in a multiparty election. The long years of civil war had led often to cancel electoral process in many parties of the semi-autonomous region.

Every elector in Jonglei, largest state in the South, wants to be the first to cast his/her vote. People are moving to their respective constituencies – where they registered and expected to vote to choose their leaders from April 11 to 13.

Voter here will vote to elect Sudan and southern Sudan government presidents, governors, MPs for national, southern Sudan and regional legislative assemblies. For the MPs the vote will be geographical, for women and political parties lists.

“It is the first time to participate in national elections,” said Dhieu Machar, 27, at Marol Bus Park on his way to Baidit where he registered for elections last year. “I’m happy to vote and wishes to be among the first ten electorates,” he added.

The bus station is empty. All the minibuses, land cruisers for public travel are taken-up to transport voters to distanced polling stations. Traffic in the town is less since trucks normally exclusively used for carrying goods are hired by politicians and anxiety voters. The atmosphere is dense in Bor town, the State capital partly because nobody is talking anymore about who to vote.

On the roads, in hotels, bars and restaurants discussions have shifted from discussing candidates of favorite to making history through participating in the first multiparty elections in 24 years in Sudan but the first inclusive for southern Sudanese since independence 54 years ago.

“My vote is my voice,” said Ajang Lualbok, relaxing with friends in Garden Resort Hotel on Saturday. “It is vital to vote your leader and that is the importance of democracy,” he confidently added.

568,208 voters are registered in Jonglei to cast their votes in 669 polling stations for 29 geographical constituencies. The turn is expected to be high but the probability of pastoralists – grazing their cattle in Toch (grazing areas between rivers for dry season) casting their votes are low for there are no mobile polling stations. Illiterate voters are also expected to face hardship, given the complexity of these polls. One person will vote 12 times.

CONSTITUENCIES TO WATCH

The three candidates contesting for Jonglei Governorship; Kuol Manyang Juuk, (SPLM) and Joseph Duer Jakok (NCP) George Athor Deng, are due to make history as first elected leaders of Southern Sudan vast-populated states.

Four ministers in the Government of Southern Sudan are contesting to parliamentary seats to Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly. They are Gier Chuang Aluong of Internal Affairs, Michael Makuei Lueth of legal affairs and constitutional development, Baraba Marial Benjamin of Trade, Commence and Supply and John Luk Jok of Mining and Energy. They are all from the south Sudan ruling party. Philip Thon Leek, the Sudan federal minister of bridges, road and transport and James Kok Ruea, the Sudan State Minister for irrigation are also vying to SSLA. These are the constituencies to watch and the main test for the popularity of SPLM in Jonglei State.

There are no opinion polls conducted here and chances of winning or losing elections are unknown.

(ST)